PARIS-- France is creating a new government-backed investment bank that will aim to spur economic growth by lending to small and medium-sized enterprises. Jean-Pierre Jouyet, the head of French state-owned financial institution CDC, has been named chairman of the new investment bank, known by its French intials BPI.

BERLIN-- A top German government official on Wednesday dashed hopes of swift progress on strengthening Europe's financial sector, saying this week's summit of the bloc's 27 leaders won't make any final decisions on setting up a single banking supervisor.

*Rescued bank Dexia declines to comment, state keeps distance. PARIS, France, Oct 12- French towns that say they were tricked into taking out risky loans from rescued lender Dexia are refusing to repay them in full and are asking President Francois Hollande for a bailout.

*Aims to promote democcracy in Africa. Hollande, who heads to the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday for a gathering of French-speaking nations, has promised to promote democracy in Africa and break with an era of collusion between French and autocratic African leaders.

MADRID, Oct 11- Spain is comfortable putting off an international aid request for weeks or even months as it waits out German political obstacles and seeks greater definition on the European Central Bank's bond-buying programme, analysts and sources say. Spain must first sign up for a European rescue plan to trigger the bond buying.

MADRID, Oct 11- Spain is comfortable putting off an international aid request for weeks or even months as it waits out German political obstacles and seeks greater definition on the European Central Bank's bond-buying programme, analysts and sources say. Spain must first sign up for a European rescue plan to trigger the bond buying.

As well as citing the deepening economic recession in Spain and rising levels of social discontent, the agency said the government's hesitation in requesting help was "potentially raising the risks to Spain's rating."

THE CHALLENGE: The leaders of France and Spain said Wednesday that the 17 countries that use the euro already have all the tools they need to solve their debt crisis and now must put their promises into action.

*Sources said Germany opposed the $45 billion aerospace merger. PARIS/ BERLIN/ LONDON, Oct 10- EADS and BAE Systems called off the world's largest defence and aviation merger on Wednesday, and pinned the blame on Germany for wrecking the $45 billion deal.

*Sources said Germany opposed the $45 billion aerospace merger. PARIS/ BERLIN/ LONDON, Oct 10- EADS and BAE Systems called off the world's largest defence and aviation merger on Wednesday, and pinned the blame on Germany for wrecking the $45 billion deal.

*Rio Tinto unit selling one of two French plants. *Says sale triggered by expiry of power supply deal. PARIS, Oct 10- Rio Tinto is pushing ahead with plans to sell a century-old aluminium plant in the Alps of southeast France as the global mining group continues its retreat from a struggling aluminium sector.

*Sources said Germany opposed the $45 billion aerospace merger. *BAE shares down 1.14 per cent, EADS up 4.44 per cent By Sophie Sassard, Jason Neely and Kate Holton. LONDON, Oct 10- EADS and BAE Systems called off the world's largest defence and aviation merger on Wednesday, and pinned the blame on Germany for wrecking the $45 billion deal.

PARIS-- The leaders of France and Spain said Wednesday that the 17 countries that use the euro already have all the tools they need to solve their debt crisis and now must put their promises into action.

*Sources said Germany opposed the $45 billion aerospace merger. LONDON, Oct 10- EADS and BAE Systems called off the world's largest defence and aviation merger on Wednesday, and pinned the blame on Germany for wrecking the $45 billion deal.